New Design Competition by the Geoffrey Bawa Trust

Bench It! 2025: a new design competition for fresh and innovative bench designs with submissions closing June 18th.

Calling all designers, architects and students! The Geoffrey Bawa Trust is currently running a bench design competition for the front terrace of The Bawa Space on Horton Place.  This is an open call for young Sri Lanka-based designers to re-imagine the bench as more than just an object to sit on, but a place for rest, reverie and reflection.

This initiative honours the legacy of Geoffrey Bawa, whose work exemplified the integration of art, architecture, and ecology. His spaces invite contemplation and combine moments of pause with movement, and  we are looking for bench designs that reflect this ethos.

A bench is a place to rest, it encourages us to take a moment, slow down, and notice what is happening around us. With this in mind, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust is looking for a new bench that:

• Reflects Bawa’s Philosophy: Sensitivity to context, light, climate, scale, and materiality.
• Balances Function and Beauty: Offer ergonomic comfort with aesthetic value.
• Explores Sustainability: Use environmentally conscious materials and methods.
• Encourages Reflection: Be a sculptural, poetic pause within the architectural setting.

The competition is open to Sri Lankan students and recent graduates (within the past 5 years) in the fields of architecture and interior design, or related fields.. Individuals or teams of up to 3 members are encouraged to apply.

Selected designs will be exhibited and published by the Geoffrey Bawa Trust and featured on our digital platforms. The winning design will be constructed and showcased outside The Bawa Space on Horton place. The winning submission will also receive LKR 30,000 and a mini chair from the Geoffrey Bawa Design Store.

Submissions close 5 p.m. on June 18th, 2025.

More information on guidelines and submissions at: geoffreybawa.com/bench-it